Author: mimada
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Electronic, Indie | Portugal. The Man – Purple Yellow Red & Blue (Passion Pit Remix)
Posted by mimada on July 8, 2013
“Purple Yellow Red & Blue” has easily been one of my most played songs so far this summer. I actually enjoyed all of Portugal. The Man’s latest album, Evil Friends, which was produced by Danger Mouse. This remix by Passion Pit, though, turns the indie rock track into a groovy nu disco ballad, giving it even more colors than it started it out with. For fans of the original, you may be a little turned off by what Passion Pit did here with the chorus but give it a chance and just dance. Also, if you haven’t seen the official music video, stop whatever you’re doing, make sure there’s no one around you, and watch it here.
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Albums, Review | Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the Sun
Posted by mimada on July 3, 2013
There’s no beating around the block here that Pretty Lights’ latest album, A Color Map of the Sun falls nothing short of a masterpiece. This album is less about unveiling new music than it is showcasing years of hard work and artistic innovation atop the highest, most deserving pedestal. I am firm believer in the theory that if you apply yourself beyond all measures, then you will be rewarded in double the amount. Derek Vincent Smith has turned a vision he had in 2011 into a reality and even without the prior fame or promotions, or limited designed t-shirts and vinyl records, the craft that went into this album can stand alone and is almost as astounding as the actual songs produced. I could sit here and rave about it for a while, although many already have (and in a much more poetic manner), so I’m going to jump straight to the music.
Remember the first time you heard Pretty Lights? Remember how blown away you were, and then how intrigued you were, and then how you fell in love with every single one of his songs right after that? Well this album is like that. Every time you play it. Seriously. ACMOTS is the epitome of everything you ever loved about Pretty Lights and more. There’s the dark, twisted songs that strike a deep, artistic and angst-y chord deep down (“So Bright”), the happy songs that sound the way watching moving clouds feels (“Yellow Bird”), and then the bangers that knock you on your ass when you hear them live (“Let’s Get Busy” and “Prophet”).
Most importantly, there’s the standout track that brings music lovers of all types together with an inspirational line we can all sing along to, with enough instrumental breaks to give us a chance to dance along and appreciate the track before the next chorus arises: step down, “Finally Moving,” and allow me to introduce to you, “Around the Block (feat. Talib Kweli).”
Lastly, there’s what separates good artists from great ones and that’s experimentation. Songs like “Vibe Vendetta” and “One Day They’ll Know” offer curious electronic sounds and stylistic choices that aren’t textbook Pretty Lights tracks and are successful for that reason. Look, Pretty Lights made a niche in the music world and with tracks like these, he proves this niche has no boundaries and infinite possibilities.
I don’t want to take away from Smith’s spotlight about he produced, recorded, and then remixed every track on the album (creating some sort of mind bending Pretty Lights inception-collage), but I think this gives way to a much greater issue at hand: the direction of EDM. Electronic music was headed to a questionable place to which we were all wondering: will we ever be able to bring it back? There has since been a pivot, seen most notably with the return of Daft Punk, that is slowly weeding out the producers, subgenres, and other manipulative players in the game that wanted the right things for all the wrong reasons. Smith’s creative process is commendable, artistically speaking, but also for the reason of being a role model and demonstrating to the infinitely ranging (in size and age) audience of EDM that success is built upon passion, perseverance, and inner confidence. Music, namely electronic, is no longer a trend, a song you rip from YouTube because your friend told you it was cool. It is returning to its roots a respectable art, and the most delectable art at that.
I encourage you to download (but really, if you can, purchase) and appreciate ACMOTS for the thousands of reasons that it’s worth.
At times I feel, like a literal color map of the sun, Pretty Lights has the power to see things in life that us mere mortals cannot. Listen, you’ll see what I mean.
Download A Color Map of the Sun
Click here to see tour dates to experience Pretty Lights for yourself
Progressive House | Arty – EDC Las Vegas Set
Posted by mimada on June 28, 2013
Listening to Arty is the closest I think I’ll ever come to the feeling of flying, which probably explains why I got a $400 speeding ticket while playing his Identity mix on a recent road trip (Texas cops are ruthless, mane). I don’t want to dwell on how upset I am that I didn’t get to see Arty live because this mix is just that good that it makes up for it. Arty starts this set out softly and compassionately, then sweeps you away with the Mikkas remix of “Rewind” and then hits you in the face with some Wolfgang Gartner “Space Junk.” I really lost it when the “We Are Your Friends” vocals made a surprise appearance during “Mozart.” I would do horrible things to have been there, going deaf at the front of the crowd, because my Logitech speakers are just not doing this set any justice, and they’re also not masking the sounds of my FOMO induced sobs. Next year…
Also, be sure check out this preview for his latest track, “Grand Finale,” featuring ethereal vocals from Fiora. Can’t wait for this release.
Electronic, FYI | deadmau5 gets “back to music”
Posted by mimada on June 27, 2013
I’m going to try not to touch on anything that’s going on with Deadmau5 in the media at the moment but I will say that it’s been an eventful few days for him. Between breaking free from the chains of Ultra Records, partnering up with Capitol Music Group, and premiering some insane robotic mau5heads at his show in Vegas, things have really been heating up. There may have been some news about him on various gossip sites this morning, you know, not really sure what that’s all about BUT it seems he took FNT author Sev’s advice and dropped two new tracks to keep the ball rolling. If only every musician could respond to negative press like that….
We’ll see how things play out.
Deadmau5 – Suckfest9001
Deadmau5 – You There?
Electro, Trap | Laura Mvula – Green Gardens (Djemba Djemba Remix)
Posted by mimada on June 27, 2013
I admire Djemba Djemba as an artist for introducing me to other artists that aren’t on my radar that very well should be. Before listening to this remix, I checked out the video for “Green Gardens” (above) which features Laura Mvula and company dancing around in parking lots and a mysterious forest wonderland at dusk. Both the song and the video are really beautiful, actually, as is Laura herself. What’s also awesome about Djemba Djemba’s remixes is that they don’t take away from the quality of the original version. In fact, this track hardly references “Green Gardens” other than a select few of the lyrics. However, Djemba Djemba maintains the same bright and empowering vibes that make the original so unique and makes them work in his own way.
I have to say though… As great as Laura Mvula’s dance party looks, I think Djemba Djemba’s green garden is where it’s at.
Download Green Gardens (Djemba Djemba Remix)
Albums, Electronic | Pretty Lights – Full Album Preview – A Color Map of the Sun
Posted by mimada on June 26, 2013
I get the feeling Pretty Lights is very excited about his latest album, A Color Map of the Sun, and everything that comes along with it, including the vinyl, the apparel, and the documentary about the making of the album. Quite frankly I’m stoked on it as well, which is why I’m providing you eager listeners with the the full album stream to keep you at bay until the album drops July 2nd. Pre-order it and you can get it a day early along with 3 bonus tracks, because you really can never get enough Pretty Lights.
Pre-order the album here.
[soundcloud params=”auto_play=false&show_comments=true”]https://soundcloud.com/prettylights/acolormapofthesun-preview[/soundcloud]
Electronic | Duck Sauce – It’s You
Posted by mimada on June 25, 2013
Despite having high maintenance blonde hair, I’ve actually always preferred going to barbershops over luxury hair salons. I consider the experience to an artistic and cultural retreat. It’s like a showcase for local or up-and-coming artists, from the street art on the walls to the records on deck, and the custom creations being buzzed into the side of people’s heads. I used to have this barber, a 7 ft. tall thug with dreads all the way down his back, who would give me a Street Cred 101 about how to walk the walk, talk the talk, and the importance of staying away from boys (or else he would hold the sheers up to my neck and threaten to tell my dad). Needless to say, I’d bust out of that place feeling rejuvenated on the inside and fly as hell on the outside. Barbershops were just the place to be even if you weren’t getting your hair did. We’ve all seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about.
Duck Sauce duo A-Trak and Armand van Helden know what I’m talking about too in the video for their latest track, It’s You. Known for producing jams with a retro twist, Duck Sauce really plays up the barbershop quartet in this one, a theme I don’t think we’ve seen yet in electronic music. The release of It’s You is just one step closer to an actual Duck Sauce album, an album A-Trak calls a “comedy album.” And it wouldn’t be a Duck Sauce video if you weren’t feeling a little confused or disturbed by the end of it. By the second or third play though, you’ll be scheduling your next buzz cut and searching for disco balls on the eBay, I can tell you that much. While I could never be as cool or awesome as A-Trak or AVH, I think I could impress my friends with this song. Impress yours, too.
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